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First Edition

Setting retailers up for exceptional customer service and long-term success

The growth of ecommerce brings new levels of complexity that affect all aspects of the retail operation. These include refinements to inventory management, cash flow and, perhaps most importantly, shipping goods to the consumer — that essential linchpin on which all ecommerce relies.

LocatorX brings robust tracking technology to retail

Product tampering has long been an issue in retail. Brands must maintain the integrity of their supply chain and ensure items are authentic and unmolested. There’s a consumer-facing component, too: Package theft is an ongoing problem. Customers are looking to retailers for help securing their purchases, and what’s needed is end-to-end product protection.

NRF is proud to provide our members with the online Retail Buying Guide to search for trusted vendors, products and services in the retail industry. Our guide is a user-friendly forum designed to bring suppliers and purchasers together. You can search by keyword, location, company name or category. Available whenever you need it, the Retail Buying Guide makes it easy to locate products and professional services geared to the retail industry. Click here to visit the online Retail Buying Guide! To advertise, please contact Sarah Allen for more information.

Cut TCO by 15% on barcode devices

Retailers have relied on rugged handheld devices for over 30 years to boost efficiency and productivity. All along, devices have suffered from failures due to charging contacts that get dirty, corrode, or break. Wireless charging prevents device failure, drastically reducing TCO. An enterprise can easily reduce TCO by 15% or more deploying wireless charging devices.

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Trends

Sustainable fashion for the long haul

In May, Copenhagen Fashion Summit, now in its 10th year, provided the opportunity for discovering new solutions, new commitments, new collaborations and new discussions in the realm of sustainability in fashion. Press materials from the event note that more than ever, companies must work together to “rectify the harmful consequences of the fashion industry and combat the climate crisis, resource scarcity and social implications.”

The digital edition of STORES includes must-read pieces, including the articles featured here. Read the current issue and browse the archives for issues you may have missed.

NRF News

Tariffs 101: What they are and how they impact retailers and consumers

As the trade war continues, U.S. businesses and consumers are paying the price, but what is the end game? On this episode of NRF’s Retail Gets Real podcast, Scott McCandless, trade policy leader for PricewaterhouseCoopers, joins NRF Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French to shed light on how tariffs are impacting the industry and how trade might impact the 2020 elections.

NRF survey says average holiday shopper will spend 4 percent more

With the holiday shopping season just around the corner, consumers say they will spend an average of $1,047.83 this year, according to the annual survey by NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics. That's up 4 percent from $1,007.24 last year. Shoppers between the ages of 35 and 44 plan to spend the most at $1,158.63.

A year later, tariffs’ challenge to supply chains is only greater

NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay went to China last week, a year after visiting Hong Kong to discuss the impact U.S. tariffs on products from China would have on supply chains. The message remains much the same, he said: Overall trade uncertainty and the imposition of substantial tariffs have been extremely disruptive to the retail industry and the economy as a whole.

Your Stores Deserve Champions!

With a mobile-first user experience, Capango eliminates the need for resumes by capturing data points about the Seeker—such as location, availability, interests, and skill sets—in just a few taps. By automatically matching Seekers with jobs based on tags selected when creating a job posting, Capango helps employers get one step closer to finding the perfect hire.

Find the Right Hires!

Retail Deals

The United States Postal Service has selected Zebra Technologies Corporation, an innovator at the edge of enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, as its next-generation mobile delivery device provider.

Ecrebo, a leader in point-of-sale marketing technology, is partnering with Albertsons Companies Inc., one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, to add personalized offers and messages to the nearly two billion paper and digital receipts issued annually at over 2,200 locations nationwide.

NIKE Inc. has reached a definitive agreement to sell the Hurley brand to Bluestar Alliance LLC.

As part of an expanded relationship, Walmart and Green Dot Corporation have entered into two new agreements in an effort to focus on retail and fintech innovation.

Increasing Conversion with Localized Marketing

While everyone acknowledges in-store conversion is key to success, how best to optimize localized retail operations to drive customer engagement and conversion is less straightforward. As consumer behavior and preferences evolve, brick and mortar stores must be one step ahead in evolving with them, adjusting store specific strategies and execution accordingly. By leveraging technology to personalize products and messaging, retailers can have targeted conversations with customers that drive conversion.

La-Z-Boy is expanding its partnership with Marxent, the leader in 3D product visualization for retail and ecommerce, by making virtual reality available to its sales associates and professional designers.

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions continues to empower retailers and enhance the customer experience by integrating the latest Intel technology within its global POS systems.

Walgreens and Jenny Craig are collaborating to bring health and weight loss management services to customers across the United States.

Edison Nation Inc., a multifaceted ecosystem which fosters innovation and drives IP, media and consumer products, is partnering with Buyaladdin to make its products available direct-to-consumers in Asia.